United States Valorous Unit Award (VUA)
United States Valorous Unit Award (VUA)
Listed below are the names of those Australian
Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) personnel eligible to wear the US Valorous
Unit Award (Army) for service with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne),
1st Special Forces and its assigned units for the period from 1 April 1970
to 8 May 1970. Members of AATTV at the time were serving with 1st
Battalion Mobile Strike Force. The Governor-General of Australia approved
the acceptance and wearing of the VUA.
Extract of the Valorous Unit
Award originally awarded on 29th June 1971 reads as follows:
| By direction of the Secretary of the Army,
under the provisions of paragraph 203, AR 672-5-1, the Valorous Unit Award
is awarded to the following named units of the United States Army and the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam for extraordinary heroism while engaged
in military operations during the periods indicated.
DETACHMENT A-245, 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE), 1ST SPECIAL FORCES and its assigned or attached units: Detachment A-114, Vietnamese Special Forces
The citation reads as follows: DETACHMENT A-245, 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
(AIRBORNE), 1ST SPECIAL FORCES and its assigned and attached units distinguished
themselves through extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations
in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 1 April 1970 to 8 May 1970.
During this period these gallant units were successful in halting and then
defeating a determined enemy siege which had as its goal the eventual capture
of Camp Dak Seang, an isolated special forces border camp in the Central
Highlands of Vietnam's II Corps Tactical Zone. On the morning of
1 April 1970 the enemy launched an intensive attack on Camp Dak Seang,
employing rockets, mortars and recoilless rifles in a day long preparatory
barrage before launching human wave attacks in the early evening.
The courageous defenders repelled the determined enemy assault, repeatedly
employing tactical air support within 100 meters of friendly troops to
eliminate numerous enemy crew served weapons positions surrounding the
camp. Turning the tide of battle, heroic elements forced the enemy
to retreat under heavy contact, ending the month long siege. The
extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty displayed by the members of
DETACHMENT A-245, 5TH SPECIAL FORCES (AIRBORNE) and its assigned and attached
units are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service
and reflect distinct credit upon themselves, their unit and the Armed Forces
of the United States and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
|
| SERVICE NUMBER | RANK | NAME |
| 42042 | MAJ | BEALE, P.W. DSO |
| 25415 | CAPT | SHILSTON, P.J. MC ** |
| 1410972 | WO2 | BARNES, R.A. DCM ** |
| 335135 | WO2 | COCHRANE, D.S. MM |
| 36246 | WO2 | JAMIESON, G.Y. MID ** |
| 29779 | WO2 | MCCLOSKEY, A.B. DCM ** |
| 13824 | WO2 | PETTIT, J.G. MID (POST.) KIA |
| 42728 | WO2 | SANDERSON, P.N. WIA |
| 213399 | WO2 | SCOWCROFT, L.B. WIA ** |
| 16071 | WO2 | WHITE, A.G. DCM ** |
** = Now deceased
FOOTNOTE:
It took nearly 40 years for this award to be recognised by the Australian Government for the above AATTV members. Bruce Davies AATTV co-author of the book, "The Men Who Persevered", ISBN 1 74114 8316, came across information for the award during research for his book. Bruce then obtained documentation from our US allies and made application through the Honours and Awards Secretariat of Australia for recognition of the award for AATTV members. The US Valorous Unit Award is the equivalent to the US Silver Star as awarded to individuals.
In his book, "Operation Orders: The Experiences of an Infantry Officer"
ISBN: 18764339513 published in 2003, Pat Beale Commander of 1st Battalion,
II Corps Mobile Strike Force details his units action during the battle
of Dak Seang.